Northern rodeo heads to Wyoming for CNFR

Throughout the past ten months, several riders from the Montana State University-Northern rodeo teams have had successful seasons to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo. Now starting this Sunday, the MSU-N riders will finally get to compete in the CNFR in Casper, Wyoming.

Many riders from the Northern womens team qualified for the CNFR. Mikenna Schauer had a great regular season for the Skylights in the breakaway roping and the goat tying events. She was the Big Sky champion in the breakaway roping and was the first woman to be named Big Sky Region All-Around Champion in Northern history. As she competes in the breakaway roping and the goat tying, Schauer has high expectations for herself.

"(I hope) to come out with a national breakaway title," Schauer said. "I want to be in contention for the breakaway title and the goat run and hopefully come out with an all-around title as well."

Kassidy Williamson will also compete in the breakaway roping event for Northern after finishing sixth in the event in the Big Sky standings this past season. In the barrel racing event in Casper, Brittney Cox and Jill Marcenko will both represent Northern. In the Big Sky standings this past year, Cox finished sixth.

From the Northern men's team, a pair of freshmen will represent the Lights at the CNFR. Taylor Young will compete in the bareback event after finishing sixth in the Big Sky standings this past year.

Garrett Cunningham will also head to Casper to compete in the saddle bronc riding event. This past year, he finished the season as the Big Sky Region champion in saddle bronc riding and he finished 14th in the nation in the event in total points. With this being his first CNFR, Cunningham looks forward to competing on a larger scale.

"I plan to ride tough and hopefully make the short round," Cunningham said. "I look forward to getting on some good horses and seeing some good competitors."

The regular season for the Northern rodeo teams wrapped up early in May, so the riders have been at home for the past month. Back home in Broadus, Cunningham has kept himself prepared by riding on his bucking machine and participating in local rodeos when he gets the chance. Schauer has also been hard at keeping herself ready after returning home to Halkirk, Alberta, Canada.

"(It's just) lots of practice," Schauer said about her work the past month. "Just building (off what I know) and staying confident. Just working on being faster."

The Northern cowgirls and cowboys will be looking to end their seasons on a high note. After successful years for many of them, the Northern riders will look to compete as hard as they have this season.

"(I plan to) just keep riding tough like I have been and don't let anything bother me," Cunningham said.

But regardless of what happens next week, they are happy to get one last chance to ride with each other this season.

"(I look forward to) being with the team and just getting some good quality with them," Schauer said.

The CNFR in Casper Wyoming will begin Sunday and will run through next Saturday.